BLM Poor Windy protest (Bureau of Land Management)

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552, as amended.  I make this request on behalf of myself as an individual for documents regarding activities of the Bureau of Land Management in both the national office, their OR/WA state BLM office, the Medford BLM District and Grants Pass BLM Field office.

I request this information as an independent reporter with a long history of interest and involvement in federal activities with respect to logging, mining, grazing, and fish and wildlife.

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, please send copies of the following documents:

1.              All emails, phone records, notes, correspondence, texts, documents, reports, and disclosures regarding the Poor Windy timber sale tree sit and/or Poor Windy timber sale protests, including but not limited to correspondence from or to BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning and BLM Deputy Director Nada Culver.

We emphasize that this request applies to all described documents whose disclosure is not expressly prohibited by law.  If you should seek to prevent disclosure of any of the requested records, we request that you: (i) identify each such document with particularity (including title, subject, date, author, recipient, and parties copied), (ii) explain in full the basis on which non-disclosure is sought, and (iii) provide us with any segregable portions of the records for which you do not claim a specific exemption.

These documents will provide an indication of whether the BLM has carried out its responsibilities pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Land Policy Management Act, and the United States Constitution.  Release of this information will benefit the public, which has an interest in knowing whether and to what extent the Medford BLM is satisfying its statutory and regulatory requirements. The management of this project area is of the utmost interest to our supporters and readers. I will use the requested information to further the public’s understanding of the BLM management and we will disseminate the information through news channels.

I also request that you waive any applicable fees because the requested material is clearly in the “public interest.” This request complies with 5 U.S.C. § 552 because the furnished information will be used to inform the public of how the federal government is managing vegetation, wildlife and watersheds public lands as well as responding to the protected first amendment right to peacefully protest. These documents concern the operations and activities of the Medford BLM various employees from HR personnel, Law Enforcement and NEPA planners. The release of these documents will enhance the public’s understanding of the BLM management and inform the public as to whether the BLM has complied with its duties. I have no commercial interest in these documents.

Through destination these records will allow a reasonably broad audiences to better understand BLM management activities.

The requested information is “new” in that it is currently unavailable to the public. Disclosure of the information will clarify BLM activities concerning resources of public concern.

If for some reason the fee waiver is denied, I reserve the right to appeal such decision. However, I anticipate that the BLM will make the requested materials available within the statutorily prescribed period. Access to the records should be granted within twenty working days from your receipt of this request. Failure to respond in a timely manner shall be viewed as a denial of this request. Time is of the essence.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

J Kehrer